* * *
As he stared at his driver’s license, with his photo printed neatly on it, Jingyeom couldn’t stop grinning.
As soon as Soohyuk came home from work, he ran to the entrance to greet him.
Stretching his arm out, he held up the license right in front of Soohyuk’s face.
“Tada!”
“Wow, looks like I should buy you a car to celebrate.”
Soohyuk clapped dramatically as he congratulated him.
Even though he had already seen the photo via text and spoken to him on the phone, he still gave a big reaction so that Jingyeom wouldn’t feel let down.
Grinning so wide it almost split his face, Jingyeom wiped the license with his sleeve.
“Oh, no need! I’ll save up and buy one myself. I’ve already decided which one I want!”
“You’ve picked one already? But… there’s a problem.”
“What problem?”
“I already bought one.”
“…What?”
“I already signed the contract and paid the deposit. I can’t cancel it now.”
Seeing Soohyuk’s bright smile, Jingyeom could only sigh with a resigned expression: ‘This is just how he is.’
Since it would take some time for the car to arrive, they decided that Jingyeom would practice driving with one of Soohyuk’s cars for the time being—so he wouldn’t lose the feel of driving while waiting.
Since driving alone was still a bit much for him, they hired a professional instructor, and for a while, he commuted to the café with supervision.
After a few round trips through the busy streets of Seoul, his confidence grew, though buses and taxis still made him nervous.
About a week later, Soohyuk suggested they go somewhere quieter for more driving practice.
At first, Jingyeom declined, saying there was no need—but before he knew it, he was packing his bags.
Even as he packed his clothes, Jingyeom kept questioning if this was really necessary.
Technically, they could’ve practiced nearby, but with the traffic making things riskier, Soohyuk suggested they go somewhere a bit farther for safety—and Jingyeom agreed.
The issue, however, was the duration: two whole weeks.
The café was fine without him since the manager could handle things.
As much as it pained him to admit it, his role there mostly involved working the counter or overseeing the shop.
His absence would leave a bit of a void, but it wouldn’t affect business.
Plus, when he checked the calendar, he realized their one-year anniversary would fall during the trip.
He had planned quite a few surprises to celebrate it himself this time since Soohyuk had always done so much for him—but now everything had fallen apart.
Even though the events were canceled, there was still one thing he absolutely wanted to give.
He opened his drawer and pulled out a neatly wrapped ring box that had been hidden deep inside.
‘I’ll give it to him there.’
Carefully wrapping the case with some clothes to prevent any damage, he placed it into his bag.
After neatly packing everything, Soohyuk came over.
“Finished packing?”
“I am… but is this really okay? I mean, who takes a two-week driving course?”
“We’ll rest a bit while we’re at it. We didn’t even get to take a summer vacation this year, remember?”
Because Jingyeom was busy opening the café and Soohyuk was helping him, neither of them managed to take a summer vacation.
Even though Soohyuk had submitted his resignation, he agreed to stay on at the company until a replacement was found.
To use up his remaining leave and under the pretext of getting in some driving practice, he suggested they take a trip.
Of course, Soohyuk was also thinking about their one-year anniversary, so he had chosen this timing on purpose.
Soohyuk was eager to relax alone with Jingyeom once he officially quit his job, and he wanted to start winding down the café.
But since Jingyeom was still full of passion for it, he decided to wait and see a little longer.
“We’ve both worked so hard, so let’s take some time off somewhere with fresh air and spend some time together. You’ve been even busier than me lately and haven’t had a proper break, even on weekends.”
After things at the café stabilized, Jinwoo had gone abroad to study, so Jingyeom spent weekends with him.
After that, thanks to growing popularity on social media, the café got busier, and Jingyeom started working weekends too.
Though Soohyuk voiced his complaints, he never stopped Jingyeom from working.
Besides, once you get past the first hurdle, everything else gets easier.
Soohyuk had started seducing him more openly, and Jingyeom gave in quite easily.
However, Jingyeom’s stamina couldn’t keep up, and most of the time, even light teasing would make him fall asleep right away.
After thinking for a moment, Jingyeom nodded.
Even though the trip was supposedly for driving practice, he figured it was about time he focused on Soohyuk, who had been holding back all this while.
“That’s true. I’ve packed everything! Let’s go!”
When they stopped at a rest area, Jingyeom took the driver’s seat.
“From here, you drive, darling.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. You’ve been driving back and forth to the café, so you can do it. That’s why we brought this car.”
When Jingyeom looked at him with sparkling eyes, moved, Soohyuk gently rubbed his cheek and told him to adjust the seat first.
So, from the rest area to near their destination, Jingyeom drove.
He was worried since it was his first time on the highway, but thanks to his experience driving through busy city streets, his skills had improved, and there were no issues.
The destination was a bit secluded, so they switched drivers after getting a little lost, but overall it was a very satisfying driving lesson.
As they got out of the car, Jingyeom pulled his cardigan tighter against the unexpectedly chilly breeze.
“…There really isn’t anything around here.”
He half-expected it, but as anticipated, there was only one house where they arrived.
He’d heard about it before, and it didn’t look much different from the place they stayed last time.
There was a large garden, a swimming pool, and the sea right in front of them.
Though it was a cliff and they couldn’t walk down directly, it was reachable by car.
The only difference was that last time there were only trees, and now they had a view of the sea.
He hadn’t asked whether Soohyuk bought it or rented it, but knowing his personality, he figured Soohyuk probably bought it.
As soon as they parked, two people came out and carried their luggage inside.
‘…Honestly, I wonder if Soohyuk-hyung can even do anything on his own.’
Thinking back, Soohyuk always seemed to take it for granted that others would do things for him — like now.
Watching him up close, it was clear he had been raised very well, in every sense.
Soohyuk draped his coat over Jingyeom and hugged him tightly from behind, nuzzling into the back of his head and planting small kisses.
“I’ve prepared barbecue for dinner — your favorite. Lots of meat, not too many veggies.”
“I love it!”
Jingyeom’s face instantly lit up, even though he’d been lost in thought just moments earlier.
Smiling softly at how silly it all seemed, he turned around and buried his face in Soohyuk’s chest, hugging him tightly.
Soohyuk embraced him even tighter and lightly kissed his forehead.
While watching the fire show in the yard and enjoying their barbecue, Jingyeom rubbed his full belly and stared absentmindedly at the campfire while sipping jasmine tea.
He had been sampling a variety of teas recently, considering switching the brand for the café.
As night fell, the temperature dropped even more, but sitting by the fire made even that feel romantic.
And when he looked up, the sky was filled with stars he could never see back in Seoul.
Some might say they were satellites, but to Jingyeom, they just looked like beautiful, twinkling stars.
“Phew…”
He blew on his tea to cool it down before taking a sip.
The fragrant aroma spread through his mouth and down his throat, warming his whole body.
He realized he really had been going back and forth only between home and the café lately.
It felt so good to finally be outside like this.
The pleasant crackling of the firewood, the warm tea, the blanket, and the presence of the person he loved — it made him feel like he had everything in the world.
“Are you cold?”
“I’m fine. Hyung, are you cold?”
“No, I was worried you might be.”
Soohyuk wrapped his arm around Jingyeom’s shoulders and pulled him closer.
Whenever the wind shifted and the smoke blew their way, Soohyuk would gently pull Jingyeom’s head against his chest and tug the blanket up.
Every little action was all for Jingyeom — none of it for himself.
“Hyung. Aren’t you maybe too in love with me?”
“Why even ask something so obvious? Why? Do you only like me a little, darling?”
“No way. I like you a ton. A crazy amount!”
As Jingyeom answered playfully, Soohyuk smiled and planted a quick kiss on his nose.
‘He used to get so shy just saying he liked me… He’s really come a long way.’
Soohyuk had worked hard to hear those words from Jingyeom.
He used to have to cling to him, coaxing the words out after multiple tries.
Jingyeom always said it was too embarrassing.
But now he seemed more used to it, and said it much more often.
“Make sure to keep yourself wrapped up.”
Handing over the blanket he had been using, Soohyuk went to add more firewood.
It was only a few steps away, but Jingyeom naturally found himself watching his back.
As he stared, Jingyeom tilted his head slightly.
He used to think he was always being swept along by Soohyuk, but after living together, he realized that wasn’t exactly the case.
‘I’ve definitely changed. Or maybe it’s just my perspective that’s changed.’
Before too long, Soohyuk’s whole lifestyle had started revolving around Jingyeom.
It had always leaned that way, but after living together, it became even more noticeable.
The biggest change was food.
Originally, Soohyuk preferred Western food, but now his diet had naturally shifted to Korean meals.
He never disliked any food, but rice hadn’t been his staple before.
Now, for Jingyeom’s sake, he even made sure to eat breakfast every morning.
His lifestyle had also become more regular.
In the past, he would sleep whenever he felt like it and head to work, but these days, he often went to bed when Jingyeom did, and naturally, he started sleeping more.
‘It’s already been over a month since we started sharing a room.’
Though their individual rooms still existed, they’d renovated to combine two rooms into one, making it fully livable as a shared space.
While the construction was going on, they stayed at a hotel, which was quite nice too.
Jingyeom had particularly loved the big bathtub, and when they returned home after the renovations, a similar tub was waiting there.
After that, he decided to be a bit more open about showing his preferences from now on.
‘…I really need to work out, though.’
Every time they were intimate, he could barely walk the next day, making him feel the desperate need for exercise.
Before, Soohyuk would go easy on him, saying he had to go to work the next day — but not anymore.
When Jingyeom’s face suddenly flushed, Soohyuk hurried over after setting down the new firewood to check if he was feverish.
“Looks like we stayed out too long. Let’s head inside.”
* * *
Love you ❤️